Elly Schlein vowed to be a "problem" for Premier Giorgia Meloni's government after becoming the first woman leader of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) with her surprise win over Emilia Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini in Sunday's primaries.
The 37-year-old is also the PD's youngest-ever leader.
She replaces ex-premier Enrico Letta, who announced he was
stepping down after the party's disappointing showing in
September's general election, which was won by a right-wing
coalition headed by Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party.
"The Democratic (Party) people are alive and ready to get back
up with a clear stance," she said after winning the primaries in
which over one million people voted.
"Now we must be united to get back to winning ways.
"The PD will be a problem for the Meloni government".
Letta said he was confident Schlein would "achieve what I could
not".
Bonaccini said it was now up to Schlein to outline the way
forward for the party, adding that he was ready to lend a hand
to his former deputy in the Emilia Romagna regional executive.
She was also congratulated by Meloni, Deputy Premier,
Infrastructure Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini and
ex-premier Giuseppe Conte, the leader of the opposition 5-Star
Movement (M5S).
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